Uncoupling valve and switch



April 19, 1932. H. F. WOERNLEY UNCOUPLING VALVE AND SWITCH Filed July12, 1930 M z. 3 5 a l 2 6 o 4 2 3 L a a s m a 4 .5 My? B O 7 3 2 m mmwfi2 a 3 2r I a I 2 T 3 mm J J mm a 2 T2 IH 6 4 o 4 0 o as 4 mg 6 3 m 4 H a6 4 I a m l BY ATTORNEY Patented Apr. 19, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENTOFFICE HARRY F. WOERNLEY, OF WILKINSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA ASSIGNOR TO THEWEST- INGHOUSE AIR BRAKE COMPANY, OF WILMERDING, PENNSYLVANIA, ACORPORA- TION OF PENNSYLVANIA UNGQUPLING VALVE AND SWITCH Applicationmed July 12,

This invention relates to devices for coupling cars and for connectingelectric train line circuits between the cars of a train.

It has heretofore been proposed to employ a manually operated switchmechanismfor controlling the electric train line circuits on a car, whenthecircuits are connected between cars by the operation of an automatictrain line coupler, in order that the circuits may be opened before thecars are separated, so as to prevent arcing at the contacts associatedwith the automatic coupler. With the above arrangement, if current istaken from a third rail or trolley wire on one car, it is carried to theother cars through a bus line which is controlled by jumpers locatedbetween the cars. 1

It has also been proposed to control the bus line circuits by means ofcouplers adapted to be automatically operated by the coming together ofthe cars, and an additional hand operated switch mechanism was providedfor opening the bus line circuits before the cars are separated.

'An object of this invention is to provide means for controlling the busline switch mechanism so that the bus switch will not operate each timethe train passes over a gap in the trolley or third rail of sufficientlength that the entire train loses contact with the power supply. v

Another object of the invention is, to provide an improved mechanism forcontrolling the bus line switch and for also controlling the uncouplingmechanism of the car coupler, v

so that the bus switch will be operated in ad- Vance of the operation ofcoupling mechanism to uncouple the car.

Another object of the invention is to providean improved automatic'carcoupler of the character mentioned, which is simple in' construction,and reliable and exact in function under all conditions of servlce.

.The lnventlon also comprises certain new and useful improvements in theconstruction,

arrangement and combination of the several parts of which itis composed,as will be here inafter more fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings; Figure 1 isa diagrammatic view, mostly insection, of

1930. Serial No. 467,478.

paratus embodying the invention, showing the preferred form' of controlmechanism; F ig. 2 is a section taken on the line 22 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3is anend view of a portion of the control mechanism shownin Fig. 1; Fig.4 is a plan,part-ly in section of a modified form of control mechanism;Fig. 5 is a side elevation, partly in section of the structure shown inFig. 4; Fig. 6 is a horizontal section-taken on the line 66 of Fig. 5.

Referring to the drawings, the equipment may comprise an automatic car,air and electric coupler device 6, a bus switch device 7, a magnet valvedevice 8 for operating the bus switch device 7, and a combined controlvalve and switch mechanism 9.

If so desired, the couplerdevice 6 may be of the type shown in UnitedStates Letters Patent No. 1,571,222 of February 2, 1926, and since thestructure shown in the patent is well known in the art, only so much ofthe car coupler has been illustrated as to clearly understand thepresent invention.

As shown, each coupler may comprise a hook-shaped projection 10 adaptedto engage a corresponding inclined surface of a counterpart coupler andbe rigidly clamped therewith by a locking lever 11. V

The car coupler also serves as a coupler for the fluid pressure pipes,such as the main reservoir pipe 12 and the brake pipe 13. In

actual construction the fluidpressure conduits are arranged in verticalalinement, and therefore the brake pipe connection through the coupleris omitted.

vThe conduit through the coupler for the main reservoir line iscontrolled by a tappet valve 14 which is unseated at the final part ofthe coupling movement.

A brake pipe closing valve 15 is interposed in the brake pipe 13' and isadapted to be operated by a piston 16, the parts being contained in acasing 17 Fluid under pressure for operating piston 16 maybe suppliedthrough. a'pipe 18, provided with a ball check valve 19, and leadingfrom the combined control valve'and switch mechanism 9,.said'niechanismbeing operated in a manner to be hereinafter described to to engage themember 24 is a pair of contact fingers 25 and 26. Adjacent to the busswitch device, the bus wire 21 is severed and the two free ends thereofare respectively connected to the contact fingers 25 and 26 in themanrer to be hereinafter more fully described.

A cylinder 27 is formed in the casing of the switch mechanism 7,andmounted in said cylinder is a piston 28 havinga piston stem 29. Theouter'end of the stem 29 extends into a spring chamber 30 containing acoil spring 31. Said spring engages a member 32 secured to the stem 29and tends to move the stem towards the left.

An arm 33 is fixed to the squared end of shaft 23 and said arm is forkedto engage over a flattened section of the stem 29. A pin 34 extends outfrom the flattened portion of the stem and engages in slot 35 in the arm33.

' The spring finger 26 is secured to a terminal member 36 fixed to ablock 37 formedfrom suitable insulating material, the end of thebranched sect-ion of the bus wire 21 being also secured to the terminalmember 36.

The spring finger 25 is secured to a terminal member 38 which is alsofixed to the block 37, the end of the main bus wire 21 being alsosecured to the terminal member 38.

The magnet valve device 8 may comprise a magnet 39 and a double beatvalve 40 adapted to be operated by said magnet. The double beat valve 40is mounted in a chamber 41'connected tothe piston chamber 42 of the busswitch device 7 by a pipe 43. On one side the valve 40- has a flutedstem 44 extending through a suitable bore 45 in the casing, whichconnects the chamber 41 to the atmosphere in one position of the valve.On the opposite side of the valve-40 has a fluted stem 46 extendingthrough av suitable bore 47. which connects the chamber 41 with achamber 48, connected to the main reservoir conduit of the couplerby apipe 49.

In the present instance, two forms of combined control valve and switchmechanism devices are shown, one form being shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3,and the other form being shown in Figs. 4, 5 and 6.

As shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, the combined control valve and switchmechanism 9'may comprise a casing in which is mounted-a suitable shaft50. Mounted on the shaft 50, and

spaced a suitable distance apart, is a segmental drum contact member 51and a cam 52. The outer end of the shaft is provided with an operatinglever or handle 53 which is provided with a pin 54 adapted to engage. anabutment 55 in one position of the handle to limit the movement of thehandle in a counter-clockwise direction, and adapted to engage anabutment 56 (see Fig. 3) in another position of the handle to limit themovement of the handle in a clockwise direction. When the pin 54 engagesthe abutment 55, the handle 53 is in the coupled position of the deviceand when the pin 55 engages the abutment 56 the handle is in uncoupledposition of the device.

Adapted to engage the drum contact member 51 are two contact fingers 57and 58 which are mounted on a block 59 of suitable insulating material,fixed in the casing. The contact finger 57 is connected by a wire 60 tothe bus wire 21, the wire 60 being provided with a suitable resistance61. The contact finger 58 is connected by a wire 62 to one terminal ofthe magnet 39, the other terminal of said magnet being connected toground, as at 63.

Mounted in the casing of the combined control valve and switch mechanism9 and disposed in vertical alinement with the cam 52, are valves 64 and65.

The valve 64 has a fluted stem extending through a suitable bore 66formed in the easing between chambers 67 and 68. Chamber 67 is connectedto the main reservoir pipe 12 by a pipe 69, and chamber 68 is connectedto the pipe 18 heretofore referred to by a passage 70.

The valve has a fluted stem extending through a suitable bore 71 formedin the easing and engaging in chamber 68, the extremity of the stem ofvalve 64, the construction being such that when the valve 64 is seated,the valve 65 is held off its seat, and when the valve 65 is seated, thevalve 64 is held off its seat.

Mounted in the casing between the cam 52 and the valve 65 is a member72. One end of the member 72 is pivoted on'a pin 73 carried by thecasing, the other or outer end of said member being free. Interposedbetween the member 72 and the valve 65 is a coil spring 74, which isnormally extended, and which is adapted to be compressed by said memberandthereby act to seat the valve 65.

The side of the member 72 opposite to the spring 74 is provided with anupstanding enlargement, or boss 75 adapted to be engaged by a projectingcam face 76 provided on the cam 52.

For the purpose of limiting the upward swinging movement of the free endof the member 72, the wall of the casing is provided with a laterallyextending projection 77.

The cam 52 is provided with a pair of spaced projections 78 and 79,which provide and also through a port 82 to the atmosphere,

and a pair of spring-pressed plungers 83 and 84 adapted to be engaged bya contact'memher 85 carried by the operating handle 86 of the cook 81.The wire 60 is connected to the lunger 83 and the wire 62 is connectedto the plunger 84.

When the cars are coupled together and the handle 53 is in coupledposition as shown in Figs. 1 and 3, the magnet 39 will be deenergized,since the contact fingers 57 and 58 will be disengaged from the drumcontact member 51, so that the circuit from the bus wire 21 to themagnet is open. With the magnet 39 thus deenergized, the lower part ofthe double beat valve 40 will be held off its seat by spring 87 and theupper part of said valve will be seated, thereby closing the atmosphericexhaust port through the bore 45.

Fluid under pressure is supplied to piston chamber 42 of the bus switchdevice 7 from the main reservoir 20, through pipe and passage 12, pastunseated tappet valve 14 in the coupler, through pipe 49, to chamber 48,and from thence through bore 47, chamber 41, and pipe .43. The piston 28is thus maintained in the right hand end of chamber 42, and in thisposition the drum contact member 24 engages the fingers 25 and 26,thereby closing the bus line circuit on the car.

Since the supply of fluid under pressure for operating the bus switchdevice 7 is controlled by the magnet valve device 8, and .since fluidunder pressure is supplied to said bus switch device so as to maintainthe same closed when the magnet of said magnet valve device isdeenergized, it will be readily understood that the bus switch devicewill not be operated to open the bus line circuit each time the carpasses over a gap in the third rail or trolley. Therefore in a traincomposed of cars provided with the bus switch control mechanism of thepresent invention, current will always be supplied to the bus linecircuit from the third rail or trolley, since the bus switches willremain closed as long as the cars are coupled up.

When it is desired to uncouple the car, the

handle 53 is turned from the coupled position to the uncoupled position(see Fig. In the initial movement of the handle 53 the drum contactmember 51 engages the fingers 57 and 58, thereby closing the circuitthrough which current is supplied from the bus wire 21 to the magnet 39of the magnet valve device 8, so that said magnet is energized.

With the energization of magnet 39, the double beat valve 40 will beshifted from its upper position as shown in the drawings to its lowerposition in which the supply of fluid under pressure is cut off to thepiston chamber 42, and in which said piston chamber is connected to theatmosphere, throughq pipe 43, chamber 41, and passage 45.

When the pressure is thus reduced in chamber 42, spring 31 acting on themember 32 shifts the arm 33 toward the left. This action .rotates thedrum contact member 24 to its cut-out position in which the main busline circuit is opened.

In this manner the bus switch device 7 is operated immediately after theoperator turns the handle 53 to uncoupled position.

Followin the initial movement of the handle 53 from coupled to uncoupledposition, the cam face 76 of the cam 52 engages the boss 75 on the valveactuating member 72 and moves said member downwardly, compressing thespring 74. Since the spring 7 4 acts on the valve 65, said valve will bemoved downwardly by the pressure of the spring 74 and since the stem ofvalve abuts the stem of valve 64, the valve 64 will also be moveddownwardly against the pressure of 1ts spring 88. In this way valve 65is seated and valve 64 unseated.

When the valve 64 is unseated fluid under pressure is supplied to pipe18 from the main reservoir pipe 12. The brake pipe closing valve 15 isthen operated by piston 16 to 4, 5 and 6, is adapted to operate in themanner above described, the initial movement of the handle 86 closingthe circuit through the plungers 83 and 84 whereby the magnet 39 will beenergized, and the further movement of said handle operating the cook 81to connect pipes 18 and 69 whereby fluid will be supplied for operatingthe brake pipe closing valve 15 and the other parts of the coupler inthe well known manner.

' While two illustrative embodiments of the invention have beendescribed in detail, it is not my intention to limit their scope tothese embodiments or otherwise than by the terms of the appended claims.

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is:

1. The combination with a brake pipe having a fluid pressure operatedcontrol valve andian electric switch mechanism for con trollin a trainline circuit and a piston operatedly fluid under pressure for actuatingsaid mechanism, of a magnet valve device having a normally de-energizedmagnet-for controlling a communication through which fluid is suppliedto said piston, a switch for controlling the circuit of said magnet,valve means for controlling the supply of fluid for operating said brakepipe control valve, and a single manually operated element for actuatingsaid valve'means and said switch.

2; The combination with a brake pipe having a fluid pressure operatedcontrol valve and acoupler havinga fluid pressure conduit and anelectric circuit contact'member, of an electric switch mechanism forsaid electric circuit, said switch mechanism having a piston operated byfluid under pressure for operatingsaid mechanism to close said circuit,a magnet valve device having valve means for controlling a communicationthrough which fluid is supplied from said coupler conduit to saidpiston, a switch for controlling the circuit of said magnet valvedevice, valve means for controlling the fluid pressure for operatingsaid brake pipe control valve, and a'singlemanually operated element foractuating said switch and said valve means. In testimony whereof I havehereunto set my hand,.this' 9th day of July, 1930.

HARRY F. WVOERNLEY.

